What is the difference between gum disease and periodontal disease?

What is periodontal disease (gum disease)?

What causes periodontal disease (gum disease)?

Am I at risk for periodontal disease (gum disease)?

What is the treatment for periodontal disease (gum disease)?

What is the difference between gum disease and periodontal disease?

Gum disease and periodontal disease are the same.  Periodontal disease is the scientific term used for the commonly known gum disease.

What is periodontal disease (gum disease)?

Periodontal disease (gum disease) is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums and bone supporting teeth.  The disease may be localized to one tooth, a few teeth or could involve all the teeth. There are different stages of gum disease and if allowed to progress without  treatment could lead to the loss of teeth. 

Stages of periodontal disease:

1. GINGIVITIS (This is the beginning of gum disease). There is usually no discomfort. Signs of gingivitis are mild redness and a slight swelling of the gums, gums may bleed easily.  Quite often people do not even recognize these signs because they are so mild.  The dental hygiene team at White Orchid Dental will advise if you have gingivitis. 

CAUSE OF GINGIVITIS: The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene.  Plaque ( The sticky substance that forms on teeth when the teeth are not cleaned properly) builds on teeth.  The bacteria in our mouth find plaque to be a comfortable place to live and thrive.  The foods we eat also feed the bacteria now lodged in the plaque on our teeth.  The bacteria release toxins which are gums do not enjoy.  The gums response is inflammation.  Mild gum inflammation results in redness and some bleeding but typically you will not feel any discomfort. Besides poor oral hygiene, there are other factors that may put you at risk for developing this disease. ( see below)

TREATMENT FOR GINGIVITIS: At this stage the disease process is easily reversed. A thorough dental cleaning by an expert licensed hygienist at White Orchid Dental will eliminate the plaque which in turn will halt the inflammatory process.  Proper home care via good brushing & flossing techniques as well as good nutritional support at will help maintain oral health and reduce the risk of recurring gingivitis.

2. PERIODONTITIS (When gingivitis is allowed to progress it leads to periodontitis). There are different classifications of periodontitis as the disease progresses.  Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth.

CAUSE OF PERIODONTITIS: When the plaque that initially caused the gingivitis continues to spread below the gum-line, it allows the bacteria to also penetrate this delicate area.  The toxins released from the bacteria start a more involved inflammatory response than what was recognized during gingivitis.  The chronic inflammation causes destruction of the gums and bone that support the teeth.  As it progresses, the gums loosen around the teeth which forms pockets which then trap more plaque and bacteria worsening the situation. Eventually, the bone holding the teeth in place becomes involved.  The bone begins to shrink away from the bacterial toxins.  When enough supporting bone has been destroyed, the teeth will loosen and be lost.  Besides poor oral hygiene, there are other factors that may put you at risk for developing this disease. (see below)

Periodontitis can be uncomfortable as it progresses. Discolored & bleeding gums, bad breath (halitosis), soreness while eating, movement of teeth or loose teeth, and an overall unhealthy unappealing appearance when you smile can all be symptoms experienced during chronic periodontitis.

TREATMENT OF PERIODONTITIS: Treatment for periodontitis starts the same regardless of the stage of infection.  It is imperative that the source of the disease be eliminated.  First, a deep thorough cleaning to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria must be completed.  This is much more involved than the cleaning required for gingivitis.  Most often the cleaning will be done over multiple visits and frequently local anesthetic may be necessary  to eliminate discomfort during the cleaning.  Frequent monitoring of the tissue response must be performed to be sure progression of the disease has been halted.  Oral antibiotics, localized antibiotic placement around the gums and antibiotic rinses will commonly be required to eliminate the damaging bacteria.  The experts at White Orchid Dental may also suggest using the light from a laser in the gum pockets to sterilize the pockets which allows all the other treatments to work better and faster.  If progression is not halted or too much bone damage has already occurred, you may be referred to a periodontal specialist for consideration of surgery.  Un fortunately, the destruction of bone caused by the bacteria during periodontitis is permanent.  Our goal is to halt the progression of the disease and help you retain your teeth.  There are surgical procedures which can replace bone and that option should be considered in advanced cases. 

Prevention of disease is the most important healthcare objective at White Orchid Dental. We would rather never have to treat you for chronic periodontitis as we know in almost all cases it is preventable and easily treatable if caught early in the gingivitis stage.

We hope to review risk factors that may make you more susceptible to this infection so you can reduce your risk of disease.  We want to routinely evaluate your gums and bone for changes and help you halt the disease early with mild non-invasive forms of treatment. The experts at White Orchid Dental want you to keep your teeth for a lifetime and we want you to be confident and proud to show off your pearly whites. With your understanding of the disease and our experts working with you as a team, we have the best chance of you experiencing a healthy smile for a lifetime.

RISK FACTORS FOR GUM DISEASE

Smoking & Chewing Tobacco
 Use of tobacco by smoking or chewing increases your risk of gum disease. In fact, recent studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease.

Stress
Stress can be a risk factor for gum disease because stress can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infection, including periodontal diseases.

Poor Nutrition
Bad eating habits can compromise the body's immune system and make it harder for the body to fight infection.  Bad eating habits may provide nourishment for the bacteria destroying your teeth and gums and at the same the poor nutrition is decreasing your ability to fight infection.  Periodontal disease is a serious infection and if your body cannot fight the disease, it will worsen quickly.

Clenching or Grinding Your Teeth
Clenching or grinding your teeth can put excess force on the supporting tissues of the teeth and could speed up the rate at which these periodontal tissues are destroyed.

Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that causes abnormally dangerous levels of sugar in the blood. Diabetes develops from either a deficiency in insulin production (a hormone that is the key component in the body's ability to use blood sugars) or the body's inability to use insulin correctly. Diabetics are at higher risk for developing infections, including gum diseases.

Medications
Some medications can cause changes in your mouth.  When the changes involve the gum or bone, you may be more susceptible to periodontal disease.  Many heart medications, anti-depressants and oral contraceptives can affect the mouth.   Let the professionals at White Orchid Dental know all the medications you are currently taking and advise them of changes in the future.  they are there to help you but the team can only be effective in helping you if they have all the correct information.

Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body experiences hormonal changes. These changes can affect your gums. Your gums may become sore, puffy and bleed easily. It is very important to monitor your gums during pregnancy to prevent a chronic periodontal infection. 

Genetics

Sometimes, no matter what you do to help prevent gum disease, genetics plays a role in the development of periodontal disease.  If you know of a family history of such problems, advise the experts at White Orchid Dental.  You still need to do everything you can to prevent the occurrence of disease and we may suggest more frequent monitoring to help diagnose the disease early in it process so professional treatment is as minimal as possible.

The professionals at White Orchid Dental welcome your questions. Please call 219-836-9122 to schedule your consultation with the smile care experts. Email: jeffmilne@sbcglobal.net with any questions or concerns along with your contact information and we will promptly respond.  We offer the opportunity to save time by printing the patient information forms online Patient Forms at White Orchid Dental  Please mail or fax these completed forms to us before your visit.